Emma Atkinson

Ragan Communications • 5th July 2022

‘Speak Now’: 5 internal comms lessons from Taylor Swift

Feel like you’re stuck in a rut with your internal comms strategy? Maybe like you need to shake it off? Or perhaps you’re bored with the day-to-day of your position, feeling like you know your work all too well.

Here are five lessons internal communicators can learn from the queen of pop herself, Taylor Swift.

Read on for some tips and tricks you wouldn’t have thought of in your wildest dreams, pulled straight from five of Swift’s most iconic tracks.

1. You Belong With Me

Have you ever tried

Ragan Communications • 1st July 2022

The privacy problem with paying for abortion travel, NYC restaurant won’t raise wages after bad review

Let’s explore some notable stories from June 27-July 1, 2022 — and pull out a few timely, tactical takeaways along the way:

1. None of your business: Companies face privacy concerns about paying for abortion travel

Among the many ways organizations are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, paying travel expenses for employees who have to travel out of their home state to access abortion care is among the most popular.

But some critics — even those who

Ragan Communications • 27th June 2022

Meeting in the metaverse: Fantasy or the future of work?

For many of us, virtual meetings are a cakewalk by now. You arrange your backdrop, fix your hair and put on soft pants before logging on to Zoom, Teams or Google Meet and getting down to business with your colleagues.

But there’s a new digital workplace tool that is slowly becoming more common: meetings held in the metaverse, using virtual reality technology.

The same technology that allows kids to immerse themselves in Roblox or enables your golf buddies to play a round from home is that whic

Ragan Communications • 9th June 2022

How 9 companies are engaging employees during Pride month

Pride month isn’t all about rainbows and parades. And it’s not just a celebration, either. It’s a time to remember the struggles that LGBTQ+ people have faced in winning acceptance, recognition and respect, as well as the right to marry and have families.

That’s why it’s important for internal communicators to mark the month with meaningful messaging and programming that is inclusive, educational and inspiring.

Here are three ways organizations are celebrating Pride month with their employees:

Ragan Communications • 6th June 2022

Your company’s stance on social issues could be hurting your recruiting, study shows

First, it was health insurance and job security. Then, it was ping-pong tables and kombucha on tap. Now, employees want something else from their employers: A commitment to taking public stances on social issues.

Research has shown that employees, especially young ones, want the places they work to reflect and uphold their personal values, which often means speaking out about issues like racism, gun control and reproductive rights.

But some employees feel more strongly than others about the re

Ragan Communications • 26th May 2022

Netflix’s new culture memo divides internal comms pros

Earlier this month, Netflix shared an update to its corporate culture memo. Much of its contents seem to be a reaction to recent events that have embroiled the streaming giant in controversy — and the company is facing yet another issue in Ricky Gervais’ latest Netflix comedy special, which includes transphobic jokes.

The newest Netflix Culture document includes notes about fiscal responsibility, content censorship and new sections titled “Representation Matters,” “Ethical Expectations” and “Em

Ragan Communications • 19th May 2022

How to help managers communicate about employee monitoring practices

It’s always uncomfortable when your boss walks by your desk and peers down at your computer. Nobody likes being watched, after all. But employee monitoring software, the digital equivalent of a nosy drop-in, is being increasingly used among remote and hybrid companies — and employees aren’t too thrilled.

Global demand for employee surveillance or productivity tracking software is now 59% higher than it was at the beginning of the pandemic, according to research from Top10VPN. And demand has bee

Ragan Communications • 16th May 2022

How helping employees commute to work enhances your employer brand

For employees who are returning to the office, the rising cost of a commute to a physical workplace has become a growing concern.

Gasoline prices in the U.S. hit a record high last week, with the national average price for a gallon of regular gas climbing to $4.37. Inflation has skyrocketed to a near-40-year high.

These costs are adding up for commuters: Data from Clever Real Estate shows workers are spending 20% more time and 31% more money on their commutes now than they were before the pand

Ragan Communications • 9th May 2022

Why menstrual leave is gaining popularity as a benefit

If you have a uterus, then you know how a period feels. Some months are better than others — maybe some light cramping and a little moodiness. Other months, though, can involve days of intense, sharp abdominal pain, back pain, headaches, digestive discomfort, mood swings and nausea, just to name a few common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, which affects most women.

Every 28 days or so, women (and other people with uteruses) get up and work through these symptoms — literally. Women go

PR Daily • 5th May 2022

BeReal: What PR pros should know about the newest hit social media platform

Be real. Be authentic. Be true to yourself.

That all sounds like great advice, but it’s often difficult to do so on social media, when you’re faced with photos and videos of influencers’ expensive vacations and a constant barrage of ads and sponsored posts. What would a social media platform without influencers look like?

The app BeReal, whose user base has skyrocketed over the last few months, aims answer that question.

“Your friends for real,” the BeReal website tagline reads. “A new and un

Ragan Communications • 4th May 2022

2 approaches to communicating with employees about abortion in wake of SCOTUS leak

As the United States grapples with the implications of a leaked document indicating the U.S. Supreme Court will likely vote to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, companies are facing their own choice: How to communicate about abortion rights to employees.

Internal communicators that decide to engage with this issue will consider how their messaging about employee assistance around abortion and related reproductive health needs can also be used as external comms for their organizations.

Ragan Communications • 2nd May 2022

Women shoulder extra emotional labor at home and at work. You can help.

The mental load is a popular term for the extra work that women carry in maintaining a family and household. It’s a combination of cognitive and emotional labor, according to BBC’s Worklife.

The mental load could be anything from maintaining a mental grocery list, remembering when the kids need to be picked up or always being the one to notice that the laundry hamper is overflowing.

It doesn’t apply solely to women, but most often women report taking on more cognitive labor than their male par

PR Daily • 28th April 2022

What the death of notifications could mean for PR pros

Do you hate the sound of those pesky email or text notifications? Or maybe it’s the noise of a text or social media ping that fills you with dread or anxiety.

These constant interruptions don’t just make us feel bad — they’ve actually been shown to negatively affect our cognitive ability and concentration.

Such research has prompted well-being advocates to call for “notification detoxes,” sustained lengths of time where participants undertake the challenge of going interruption-free.

The Guar

Ragan Communications • 28th April 2022

How Zoom fatigue can hurt employees — and how to fix it

We’ve all taken video meetings with our cameras off. Maybe there are kids running in and out of your home office, or you didn’t sleep well the night before and are dealing with some serious eye bags. Regardless of the reason, data shows that C-suite members don’t like it when employees go camera off.

A recent study showed that 96% of executives believe remote and hybrid employees who take video meetings with their cameras off are less engaged in their work. Ninety-two percent of those execs bel

Ragan Communications • 25th April 2022

Some employees still want to wear masks. Here's how to support them

Last week, the Transportation Security Administration updated its COVID-19 guidelines for airlines and other public transit, effectively voiding the prior mask mandate. The update occurred after a U.S. district court judge in Florida struck down the CDC’s transportation mask mandate.

Major airlines moved immediately to adjust their own policies — but two made sure to mention one-way maskers, or people who choose to mask when others are unmasked, in their messaging.

“In keeping with our commitm

Ragan Communications • 21st April 2022

How to engage employees around Earth Day

A good way to meaningfully engage your employees is to take advantage of themed holidays like Earth Day, which is quickly approaching. But as with any engagement strategy, there are pitfalls to be wary of if you’d like to avoid being seen as disingenuous.

Here are five ways to get your workers involved with your organization’s environmental missions in time for Earth Day 2022:

There’s no purer form of employee engagement than having your employees speak for themselves about their experiences.

Ragan Communications • 14th April 2022

How you can use color theory to create better workplaces

Think about your favorite shirt to wear to the office (or on your daily Zoom calls). What color is it?

Does it make you feel powerful, confident? Perhaps you like this shirt because you feel it makes you appear approachable and friendly.

Interior designers use color in a similar way, to make spaces feel inviting, clean, exciting or calming. And color theory, defined as “the collection of rules and guidelines which designers use to communicate with users through appealing color schemes in visua

PR Daily • 14th April 2022

Goop-ification: Brands are using wellness messaging to stay relevant – but there are risks

For many people, wellness has become a priority as the pandemic forced us to slow down and rethink our day-to-day choices. No longer is attending a post-work yoga class or having a daily salad on the back burner.

Brands have taken the hint, adjusting their messaging to align with the turning tide of public opinion. Working until you’re burned out simply isn’t in vogue anymore. Brands’ moves to embrace wellness and mental health are rooted in data: A 2020 study by Ogilvy found that 73% of consum

PR Daily • 12th April 2022

Yelp to cover travel for TX workers seeking abortions, top concerns for metaverse skeptics and Snapchat aims publish more news outlets

Pop music star Lizzo’s PR team is pulling out all the stops ahead of the debut of the singer’s new shapewear line, which is set to launch April 12.

It’s shaping up to be a big week for the star. Lizzo will serve as host and musical guest on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live. Additionally, the singer released a video of herself climbing onto a private jet in what can only be described as assless chaps, which sent Twitter users into a frenzy.

As of Tuesday morning, “Lizzo” is trendin

Ragan Communications • 31st March 2022

This is the best tactic for creating an inclusive workplace, according to survey

The average worker will spend 13 years and two months of their lifetime at work.

That’s why many people place a premium on feeling included at the place they choose to spend their working hours — to feel like they belong.

And while it’s easy for organizations to say they strive to build an inclusive work environment, it’s become evident over the past several years that lip service about valuing employees isn’t enough for a workforce that is more transient than ever.

Inclusion is often neatly

Ragan Communications • 30th March 2022

Why internal comms pros need to care about Glassdoor reviews

Many comms pros may underestimate the power of employee reviews when it comes to attracting jobseekers.

Recent data from financial services company Capitalize shows employees commonly use sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed, as well as Facebook and Twitter, to research a company before applying. This means that prospective workers are likely seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of employee reviews.

SocialMediaToday’s infographic summarizes Capitalize’s data and underscores the importanc

PR Daily • 28th March 2022

PR pros react to Will Smith’s Oscars slap, South Dakota hotel owner’s racist Facebook post prompts lawsuit and the case for podcast ads

When offering customer rewards, partnering up can help make the giveaway more enticing, or even newsworthy.

Chipotle is relaunching its customer rewards program in partnership with Cash App, which means participating customers can receive surprise coupons for free guacamole throughout the year, as well as a chance to win cold, hard cash.

Through the end of the month, Chipotle’s Twitter account will be encouraging fans to sign up for the GuacMode program. Those who follow @ChipotleTweets and @C

PR Daily • 23rd March 2022

Home Depot ‘privilege’ flyer sparks social media outrage, investor rumors complicate Buzzfeed staff cuts and Disney fans split on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill response

Bank of America is honoring nonprofit leaders who are “advancing racial equality and economic opportunity” in traditionally Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian American and Native American communities. The company nominated five community leaders to its inaugural Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award.

There are lots of ways for your company to put real resources behind DE&I commitments, but don’t forget to be transparent about internal diversity and inclusion efforts. Recognizing external comm

Ragan Communications • 23rd March 2022

Data literacy upskilling can make employees stay, study shows

Companies try to reduce attrition rates and convince employees to stay through promises of better pay, more comprehensive benefits and increasingly flexible work arrangements.

What might not come to mind is offering employee training to improve data literacy, which can help your workforce develop the critical thinking skills necessary to understand and accurately analyze data.

Forrester and Tableau Software surveyed 1,032 high-level decision-makers and 1,036 mid-level employees at global compa